Artist description Truant is a balearic dance combo from Manchester, UK. Sometimes Dancefloor, sometimes Lounge, they mix it up many with styles of music from trip hop to house, afro jazz funk to disco and then maybe some techno thrown in too.

Music Style Balearic Dance House and Funk

Musical Influences 70's Disco & Funk, Prog Rock, House, Jazz, Techno, Folk

Similar Artists Royksopp, Moby, Kruder & Dorfmeister,

Artist History Founded in 1995 by Ben Ashdown (a music tech student) and Jason Boardman (a house DJ), Truant spent a couple of years developing what was to become the definitive truant sound. Thus the "Naked Ape" Ep was released thru Repap in 1998, a latin enthused number with a heavy bottom knocker. This was followed by a remix of Bobby Trafalgar's "Sad Samba" and the 12" single "Change Yo Mind" in 1999. Truant then absconded for two years with some money that paperecordings gave them and had a really good time and stuff but then someone told them they were supposed to have been writing an album! So they did and there's a happy ending after all! The album entitled "Neither Work Nor Leisure" was released in July 2001, a 12 track cd with a very fetching cover and a real nice vibe about it all! 2002 was a quiet year, with only 1 realease which was a remix of Rae & Christian's "Vai Viver a Vida" and released on the "Nocturnal Activities" album. Truant have recently formed their own record label "Pride of Europe", with a planned release in April 2003 of a new 12" single "Howulikeme", a collaboration with excellent vocalist/songwriter Chris Jam.

Group Members Ben Ashdown Jason Boardman

Instruments Guitars, samplers, computers, synths, flutes, trombones, strings

Albums Neither Work Nor Leisure, Howulikeme? CD

Press Reviews Truant’s Mix of Rae & Christian’s “Vai Viver a Vida” is a calming and chilled ethnic vocal affair - www.residentadvisor.com.au Although they have only released a few singles, Truant have a loyal and impressive following from DJs such as Joe Claussell, Mr Scruff, Mark Rae, Ralph Lawson and Damian Harris. Their blend of blessed-out Balearic beats matched with uptempo house breaks make ‘Neither Work Nor Leisure’ the perfect summer companion to sitting in the garden and drinking lots of lager. www.godbrain.ch Truant's Jason Boardman and Ben Ashdown first met way back in 1995 at Dave Haslam's Yellow club, where they were disc jockey and jacket jockey respectively. Their debut album will be received gratefully by all those who fell in love with their 'Naked Ape' single a couple of years ago - the tune that kicked off the Big Chill's 'Enchanted 02'. That reappears here, albeit in evolved form, re-recorded and retitled 'Time of the Ape'. It remains as cheeky as a monkey with a whoopy cushion. That is just one of the highlights of a thoroughly likeable album, which smoothly skirts around balearic house, moonshine funk and jazzy beats. If ever a response were needed to the charge that dance music is repetitive or predictable, this is it. Here is an everchanging sequence of perky rhythms, amusing samples, guitars, flutes, strings, brass, monastic choirs, harmonica - and all that just on first track 'The Life Cycle'. Then there is the most beautiful Q&A between a a spooky jazz organ and a muted trombone on the title track. The familiar tones of Danielle Moore of label-mates Crazy Penis follow on 'Song of a City'. And if that is starting to sound predictable, how about a Hendrix cover? Yep, 'Purple Haze', refashioned, almost convincingly, as acid jazz. Although perhaps lacking the killer punch of one stand-out tune, 'Neither Work Nor Leisure' is an impressive addition to the Paper catalogue. And it is true: playing Truant is cool. AF www.bigchill.net

Additional Info www.prideofeurope.com

Location Manchester, England - United Kingdom

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